Devotion 8.21.17

There is a story about a judge who made the observation that there are so many laws on the book that a district attorney could indict a ham sandwich.  That implies that a sandwich sitting on its own doing nothing could, either in fact or through circumstance, be violating a law on the books.

So, in Christ's day, the Pharisees were armed with a  considerable number of laws on the books for the "faithful" to follow.  In Matthew 15, Christ says, "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." (v 11)  The disciples come to Christ and let Him know He's offended the Pharisees.  What He said was in response to what the Pharisees viewed as a violation of the ceremonial washing of hands prior to eating.

Christ goes on to say, "Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  These are what defile a person.  But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." (17 - 20)

What's important to you is what comes out of my mouth routinely, so what is it that I consistently say or do?  Does it honor God and build up my brother or does it tear down and shred the very fabric of what God wants me to be?  Sometimes we say, "I'm just speaking the truth, and if that offends someone, so be it."  Yes, but if it came from my heart to intentionally offend someone, then my heart is not honoring God and I'm making a mockery of Christ's words.

Pray that we honor Christ and what He teaches by what we say and do.  Pray that we build up one another and those we come into contact with.  Pray that any "truth" we speak come from scripture.

Hope Men's Ministry